A Zimbabwean official said Tuesday morning that immigration officers had arrested former U.S. congressman Melvin Reynolds, the Associated Press reported.

The official, Ario Mabika, said Reynolds is being investigated. The state-controlled newspaper, The Herald, added that Reynolds was arrested for allegedly possessing pornographic material and violating immigration laws.

"He has been picked up. Investigations are still underway and revealing information will jeopardize investigations that are underway," said Makiba.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy, Karen Kelley, said the embassy could not comment as it was a private matter and the embassy did not did not have a privacy waiver.

The newspaper reported that Reynolds had accumulated hotel bills worth $24,500 which he has not yet paid.

The Illinois Democrat served in the U.S. House from 1993 to 1995 but resigned after he was convicted of having sexual relations with an underage campaign worker.

He also went to prison after being convicted of fraud for concealing debts to obtain bank loans and diverting money intended for voter registration drives into his election campaign.